Leonard Henry (Lennie) Buckingham MM

Leonard Henry (Lennie) Buckingham MM

Personal Information
Date of Birth	28 Jan 1891
Place of Birth	Perth, Western Australia
Death	8 Jun 1960, aged 79
Place of Death	Bassendean, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	22 years, 7 months
Description	5' 7" (1.70m) tall ; 145 lbs 65.771 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Driver (horses)
Religion	Church of England
Address	'Wattledene' East Jandakot (Forrestdale), Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr. John Buckingham
Military Information
Reg Number	1778
Date of Enlistment	17 Aug 1914
Rank	Lance Corporal
Unit/Formation	8th Field Artillery Battery / 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, transferred to the 11th Battalion / 1st Division
Date of Embarkation	20 Oct 1914 ‒ 5 Dec 1914
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A7 Medic ship sailed 2 Nov 1914
Date of Embarkation	Fremantle to Alexandria "Fremantle to Alexandria" contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation.
Date of Return	10 Mar 1918 ‒ ?? Mar 1918
Ship Returned On	HMT Durham Castle England to Cape Town
Date of Return	19 Apr 1918 ‒ 4 May 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Orontes Cape Town to Fremantle
Fate	Wounded in Action 7 Apr 1917 Bullecourt area Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale War Memorial (West Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals	Military Medal 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Attended Leederville Primary and Perth Boys Schools, and was living in Forrestdale at the time of his enlistment. Prior to the war he had served in the Militia's 11th Australian Infantry Regiment.

War Service

Enlisted as an original member of the the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade's 8th Field Battery as a Driver, and although his early records are missing it would appear that he travelled to Egypt aboard HMAT A7 Medic, departing Fremantle on 2 Nov 1914 and arriving in Alexandria on 5 Dec 1914. Leonard and his unit joined the Middle East Expeditionary Force on 4 Apr 1915, and they departed Alexandria aboard HMAT A10 Karoo on 9 Apr 1915 for Mudross, arriving there on 12 Apr 1915. As they were to be the first battery ashore, they began practicing landing drills while remaining in Mudross harbour. At 1:30am on 25 Apr they left Lemnos for Gallipoli , arriving late on the first day, and landing in the afternoon of day 2. On 14 Sep 1915, illness at Anzac Cove required Lennie to be evacuated via 25th Casualty Clearing Station and HMHS Dunluce Castle from Mudross on 24 Sep 1915 to St Paul's Hospital on Malta where he was admitted on 27 Sep 1915. After assessment he was sent on to England aboard HMHS Panama on 31 Oct 1915 where he was admitted to the 3rd Southern General Hospital on 9 Nov 1915. Following his recovery he was sent to Monte Video camp at Weymouth, from where on 6 Jul 1916 he was posted to the 3rd Training Battalion at Perham Downs to retrain for infantry. On 18 Jul 1916 he was absent from the 2:00pm Parade. Found guilty he was punished with three days confinement to camp.

On 25 Jul 1916 he proceeded overseas to France and entered the 1st Division's Base Depot in Étaples. On 9 Aug 1916 he was transferred to, and taken on strength by the 11th Battalion, joining them in billets at Bonneville, France as they rebuilt after their heavy losses at Poziéres. Lennie was appointed Lance Corporal on 8 Dec 1916.

On 24 Mar 1917 he was awarded the Military Medal (see below), fortunate enough to later receive it personally from King George V at Buckingham Palace. . In the late evening/early morning of 6/7 April 1917, the enemy shelled the 11th Battalion which had just moved up to take their turn in the line at Morchies, north of the Bapaume to Cambrai road. The shelling resulted in 9 killed and 8 wounded, including Lennie who received a shell wound to his left arm and left leg. Initially treated by the 3rd Field Ambulance, he was passed next day to 56th Casualty Clearing Station and then transferred to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen on 12 Apr 1917.

Evacuated to England, on 30 Apr 1917 aboard HMHS St George, he entered the 1st Birmingham War Hospital on 1 May 1917 for treatment and then released to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital before on 6 Jul 1917 when he was sent to recuperate at No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth. While at Weymouth, on 20 Oct 1917 he was reduced to Private for breaking out of camp after tattoo (lights out) on 12 Oct 1917. Lennie returned to Australia early with asthma, and discharged 24 May 1918 at 5th Military District.

"..Was five months in the trenches at Gallipoli; got enteric, and was invalided to England, then transferred to France, now serving with the 11th Bn."

Initially reported ill, the 293rd Casualty List clarified that L. H. Buckingham (East Jandakot) was WIA.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Buckingham, Forrestdale, have received official news that their son, Lance-Corporal Leonard Buckingham, A.I.F. (one of the original Anzacs), has been wounded in France. He left with the 1st Expeditionary Force on November 2, 1914, and served for five months on Gallipoli, when he was invalided to England and has been in France since July of last year.

Mr. and Mrs. J. Buckingham, 'Wattledene', Forrestdale, have received further official advice that their son, Lennie has been awarded the Military Medal, and was admitted to hospital on May 1, suffering from gunshot wound in the thigh.

In addition to list of honours awarded to Australians recently published, it has been notified that the following W.A. members of the A.I.F. have been granted Military Medals: — Sergeant L. H. Buckingham (11th Battalion)

Award Commentary

Military Medal -

Obtained valuable information while on patrol work, displaying great courage and endurance.(At the Maze and Le Barque between 12-28 February 1917).

A more fulsome report comes from the Commonwealth Gazette No 140 dated 27 Aug 1917:

:From the 12th to the 28th February 1917, at the MAZE and LE BARQUE, L/Cpl BUCKINGHAM was constantly out on patrol work, and obtained much valuable information. Prior to the capture of LE BARQUE he led a patrol around the right flank of the village and obtained useful information as to the enemy's dispositions. He has shown great pluck and endurance throughout the Battalion's tour in the front line trenches."

Post War

In 1922 Lennie married Beryl Clarke (?) Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1926 with 'Elizabeth' at 8 Salisbury street, Balkatta; 1949 - 1958 in Derby, by himself - a manager

Served in the Citizens Military Forces during WW2 with Regimental No W47905.

Notes

Name is not on the Memorials at Banjup, or Spearwood.

References

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial